DROITWICH SPA NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN 2018 Heritage Interest Group

The Heritage our town has to offer

Droitwich Spa has a legacy of over 2000 years exploitation of its underground salt reserves. The Group considered how the benefits of this heritage can be used to enhance the economic and environmental objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan.

Iron Age and Roman. Over two millennia, these advantages have developed and changed. Brine extraction can be traced back several centuries B.C. During the Roman occupation, the strategic value of access to the salt reserves is evidenced not only by the Latin name for the town [Salinae – Salt town], but by the finds of high quality mosaic flooring and the Roman road system radiating from the area.

Mediaeval and Tudor. The Middle Ages saw an interesting period, first of Crown control of salt revenues, then of wider access to the exploitation of brine extraction. This resulted in many Droitwich denizens building impressive timber-framed properties, a number of which are currently being 're-discovered ' beneath their later brick-clad 'improvements'. Among these are structures which are exciting interest as regional innovators in architectural survivals.

Canals serving the salt industry. During the later eighteenth century, the massive development of the industry saw one of the country's earliest canals constructed to link the town with the River Severn. This was a wide, barge canal, suited to admit river traffic. In the following century, this was linked to the nationwide canal network by a conventional narrow-boat canal. The renovation and re-construction of both these waterways in the current century presents opportunities for their further exploitation. This should increase visitor numbers to benefit the Spa's retail, restaurant and guest house trade and act as a tourist destination in its own right.

The development of a Spa. The nineteenth century saw the influence of a major salt entrepreneur, John Corbett, transforming the town. The major brine extraction works having moved to nearby Stoke Works, he concentrated on using his wealth to change the focus of the town from a squalid industrial base to an attractive spa town, using the available brine for treatments, in particular for locomotive disorders. The ambiance of this heritage is seen in tree-lined avenues, and the Lido parkland. More work in concentrating on building on this environment will further increase the satisfaction local citizens find in their life in the area.

The effects on the High Street. In the post-war period of the twentieth century, salt extraction was discontinued, but not before it had resulted in a significant subsidence of the High Street. Here the wooden structures of the medieval buildings showed their resilience, and flexed as the ground moved. The result is attractive to visitors, as the intriguing perspective of tilting buildings challenges their normal expectations.

1 Using this diverse legacy to support the Neighbourhood Plan

There is much potential in the town's heritage to make it more of a tourist venue. It has potential to be seen as a specific destination for tour operators if all the current strands can be brought together under a comprehensive 'marketing' umbrella.

Consultation at the time of the Town Plan [around 2010] acknowledged the difficulties of identifying a specific 'handle' for a town with so many diverse strands in its history. [Roman, Medieval, Tudor, Brine Industry, Canal and Victorian Spa]. The town currently majors on the 'Brine Spa' aspect of its history on the Town signs. But this relates to scarcely more than a century of the town's history. It might be more inclusive to concentrate more forcefully on 'salt' or 'brine'. We are already familiar with 'The Salt King' as a sobriquet for Corbett. Why not 'Brine Barons' for those who built the impressive Tudor properties in the High street. [Even Edward Winslow's father was a brine-baron!]. Or, to mimic the Salt Way name given to our radiating roads, why not 'Brine Ways' for the canal system?

In any event, as salt has been at the heart of all aspects of the town's history, this is bound to be a principal unifying thread to an extension of the tourist footfall. A tourist trail would need to be carefully planned, with extensive signage, good quality footpaths, relaxed seating and above all, quality interpretation boards. The use of mobile 'apps' to provide a commentary is well-within the bounds of current technology.

This wealth of assets could be the base for attracting further visitors, by making the various attractions more accessible. In the longer term, as indicated below, this could be followed by a more comprehensive range of brine-related displays, and or museum collections. In the short term, there are sufficient locations to provide a self-guided, free-flow tourist walk around the town. [To name but few, the mock-up Brine pit, St.Richard and his miracle, St. Augustine's on high [and the Civil War connections]; the canal and its junction; the brine pump site near Waitrose, and the medieval backs of the High Street properties; the crooked High Street properties themselves, majoring on number 31 [and perhaps Star Yard]; the Tower Hill Pumping station; the collapse of St. Andrew's tower; Friar Street, [The Old Cock and Priory House]; the mural opposite the Spinning Wheel, the Winslow statue, the Salt workers statue, the genteel Victoria Square, and the Lido Park].

Looking to the medium term, the future of the Raven Hotel site could bring fruitful opportunities to enhance the attraction of the area. Assuming that the later excrescences to the listed building are demolished, the sixteenth century manor house might be an excellent location for an enhanced museum to better interpret our heritage. The sensitive development of the areas to its rear could link with the church garden and Tower Hill area to become a pleasant enhancement to a 'spa-ambiance'.

2 Current footfall

Judged from the crowds at the regular events held in the town, there is already much attraction for the activities taking place. St. Richard's Canal Festival, The Salt Fest, the Food and Drink Festival, and the Christmas Lights are all successful every year, as is the annual Arts Network Festival.

The most recent figure for attendance at the Food Festival was 15,000. Promoted by , it is described as the biggest and most popular of these events. An estimated £15,000 was raised for charitable causes, and this included £4,000 towards the re-instatement of the tennis courts in the Lido Park. 90% of the food and drink producers come from a 30-mile radius of the town.

There are frequent well-supported Town Walks organised by the Town council, and led by members of DSCS and DHAS. This indicates a healthy interest, but will be predominantly from local people. On the basis of this, wider publicity further afield should attract greater interest for the sort of town trails mentioned above.

The recently restored salt-water Lido pool is very popular during its summer opening period. The operators say that annual attendance averages 20,000, rising particularly in the better summers we are now expecting.

The provision of dedicated coach parking would be needed if the town is to become a tourist destination in its own right, thereby improving the footfall.

Associated Historic legacies.

The town has over 50 listed buildings, [see appendix], but there is scope to improve this number, in particular by the local listing of many of its twentieth century buildings. Added to this would be the retention where possible of historic street furniture or signage, which adds to and supports the historic or spa ambiance.

Medieval and Tudor houses have been mentioned, and productive work has been undertaken by the Historic Droitwich and Dodderhill Research Group, with National Lottery Funding, to establish their ages and construction methods. Historic is now restoring number 31 High Street, an indication of its importance. This building from 1400 has a notable pedigree in terms of its construction, its rarity and intactness for its period. It could become an attraction in its own right, similar to the recently restored Merchant’s House in Marlborough.

With this restoration completed, it is suggested that when suitable opportunities for re-development arise in the High Street, the link with the medieval past should be borne in mind, to re-introduce more fully the feel of a street from that era. All the areas that have a particular townscape character have the potential to contribute positively to the image and identity of Droitwich Spa, to improve the attractiveness of the town centre, and to increase the sense of belonging and pride amongst the local residents. 3 Pulling many of the historical strands together, there is scope for an enhanced museum for the town. The current museum at the Information Centre has some excellent displays, but more space is required to do justice to all its aspects. [One such is to record the importance of a son of the town, John Heminges. He was an actor with Shakespeare, a shareholder in the Globe Theatre, and with a colleague was instrumental in collecting and publishing The First Folio of Shakespeare's works]. Extra space would be a step to repatriating interesting local artefacts from the County museum.

Using the Heritage Legacy to enhance and protect the environment.

The Town Plan referred to states that the diversity of the locality is appreciated by the majority of the townsfolk, but that 'the most appreciated aspect of the town is its history as a spa, ...and this is what they would like to see preserved and developed'. The town centre benefits from impressive floral displays, and an interesting and well maintained Lido park just a few hundred yards distant.

The town was fortunate that John Corbett had the foresight to exploit the brine and introduce the Spa. He developed the wider and more spacious area of the town around Victoria Square, which leads out towards several tree-lined residential avenues. Several parts of this have been nominated as Conservation Areas, but more needs to be done to enhance this ambiance by the creation of more green spaces, and the planting of more trees where practicable.

Through the Lido Park and St. Peter's fields one finds St.Peters Church, with its Winslow associations, while half a mile towards Worcester the magnificent Byzantine-style mosaics of the Sacred Heart Church cannot be over-looked.

The legacy of the canal infrastructure has been considerably boosted by the regeneration of the Ring and the creation of the Droitwich Marina. This heritage can be further exploited if the plans to enhance the Netherwich basin come to fruition, and should give an opportunity to provide further access from the town centre to an improved waterside setting.

Summary

It is envisaged that if the advantages of viewing the historic legacies of Droitwich are treated in the manner described above, local residents will think even more positively of their town. Access around the town and its historic sites will be improved, and visitors as well as residents will enjoy the higher quality of the environment. The greater number of visitors will lead to sustaining an attractive town centre and fuller range of shops.

Droitwich will be proud of its history and heritage and should become a tourist destination in its own right. The potential of the town will be recognised and more fully appreciated and its historic buildings and environment will be better preserved and enhanced. 4 Appendix Listed Buildings in Droitwich Spa, Wychavon, Worcestershire 2017/8 1. II 10, High Street 2. II 103, Friar Street 3. II 105, Friar Street 4. II 12, High Street 5. II 14 and 16, High Street 6. II 17, High Street 7. II 2, Hanbury Road 8. II 2, High Street 9. II 2, St Peters Walk 10. II 20 and 22, High Street 11. II 21 and 23, High Street 12. II 21, Queen Street 13. II 24, High Street 14. II 27, Bromsgrove Road 15. II 36 and 38, Friar Street 16. II 4 and 4a, High Street 17. II 40, Friar Street 18. II 42 and 44, Friar Street 19. II 43, High Street 20. II 44 and 46, High Street 21. II 56, Friar Street 22. II 58, Friar Street 23. II 59 and 61, Friar Street 24. II 6 and 8, High Street 25. II 60 and 62, Friar Street 26. II 63 and 71, Friar Street 27. II 64, Friar Street 28. II 66, Friar Street 29. II 79 and 81, Friar Street 30. II 99 and 101, Friar Street 31. II Barn at St Peter's FarmI Boycott Farmhouse 32. II Chawson Farmhouse 33. II Chawson House 34. I Church of St Andrew 35. II* Church of St Augustine 36. I Church of St Peter 37. II Dovecote at St Peter's Manor 38. II Hill Court 39. II House Adjoining St Andrew's Church on the South 40. II Neptunes Priory 41. II* Nos. 31-35 (odd) High Street, Droitwich 42. II Raven Hotel 43. II* Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria 44. II South Lodge of Chateau Impney Including Gatepiers 45. II St Andrew's House Hotel 46. II St Peter's Manor 47. II Star and Garter Inn 48. II Talbot Hotel 49. II Tenby House 50. II The Coventry Hospital (Almshouses), South and Central Blocks Only 51. II The Herriotts 52. II The Old Cock Inn 53. II The Spinning Wheel 54. II Town Hall